Telegraph system



Sept. 12, 1939. J. N. ANDERSON El AL 0 TELEGRAPH SYSTEM filed June 26, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS J. N.ANDERSON BY R.F.DIRKES ATT RNEY

FIG. '2

Sept. 12, 1939.

J. N. ANDERSON El AL TELEGRAPH SYSTEM Filed June 26, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 N' NM MN INVENTORS .0) 3 5; 5 5: E J.N.ANDERS Q. R.F.DIRKEMS m h. AHBRNEY l 1939- I J. N. ANDERSON ET AL 2,172,920.

' TELEGRAPH SYSTEI Filed June 26, 1936 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 m V E INVENTORS J. N. ANDERSON BY R. F. om KES A RNEY FIG. 4

Sept-12, 1939. J. N. ANDERSON E'I" AL TELEGRAPH SYSTEM Filed June 26, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 J.N. ANDERSON R.F. DIRKES a Man-am ORNEY Patented Sept. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE:

2,112,920 TELEGRAPH SYSTEM James N. Anderson, North Plainfleld, N. .L, and Robert F. Dlrkes, Jamaica, N. Y., assignors to The Western Union Telegraph Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 26, 1936, Serial No. 87,570

55 Claims. (01. 17852) semination of market news, particularly stock,"

bond and like quotations, the demand on the telegraph system used varies between comparatively wide limits; the demand depending directly on the activity of the particular market. The activity of the market in this case means the volume of trading or the number of separate sales per unit of time, and not the price fluctuations of the particular commodities. However, during active markets the price of a commodity is likely-to fluctuate rapidly and consequently it is desirous that the subscribersto the service or the brokers receive the rpiotations as soon as possible. With this requisite in mind the operating speed of the telegraph systems used for the dissemination of the market news is designedto approach as nearly as possible the maximum demand on the system. As the systems are designed for maximum demand in their respective service, there is considerable time during slow or average markets when the systems are idle.

In less active exchanges, suchvas the Chicago Grain and the New York Cotton, as compared with the New York Stock Exchange, Where the demand on the disseminating system used in conjunction therewith does not approach .the capacity thereof, the system is idle a greater part of the time. Thus with a separate telegraph system associated with each exchange a great deal of equipment is required which is not efilciently used.

In accordance with the above stated conditions, one of the objects of this invention is to establish a telegraph disseminating system wherein the quotations or news from a plurality of less active exchanges may be disseminated over one telegraph system. The advantages of such a system are apparent in that one system replaces a plurality of systems requiring fewer attendants and less equipment, especially receiving units.

Another object-is to provide a storage system whereby the quotations of a plurality of exchanges may be stored in separate storing units and subsequently transmitted to a single telegraph disseminating system in a predetermined preferential order.

More specifically, an object of the invention, with reference to the quotation storage system referred to above, is to provide'a control for the storage units whereby the signals stored in predetermined of said storage units have preference to the disseminating system over those stored in others of said storage units. That is, with signals stored in each unit, the signals from 10 predetermined of said units will be transmitted before those in the other units.

' In the embodiment of this invention which will be hereinafter described in detail, it is proposed to employ four signal storage units. In this 15 embodiment two of these storage units are metallie storing transmitters of the type disclosed in U. S. patent to Wheeler No. 1,576,167, dated May 9, 1925. The other two storage units are tape transmitters of the general type disclosed in 20 U. S. patent to Benjamin No. 1,298,440, dated March 25, 1919. It should be kept in mind, however, that the invention is not limited to these particular arrangements of storing units, other types and arrangements being readily applicable. 5 A transmitting distributor is used to distribute the signals from the storing units to a line andalso provide local impulses which time the action 1 and operate various relays.

As the four storing units transmit into only one v channel of the transmitting distributor, a plurality of control relays are provided to direct the signals from the various storage units to the transmitting distributor in a predetermined order. These relays are neutral relays with varv ious contact arrangements, each contact arrangement being built up according to the function for which it is designed. The various relays are operated by various methods.- Some relays operate by a single impulse of current which is supplied from local rings of the distributor.

These relays may be locked in an operated condition by having a steady current supplied to their coils through one of their own contacts, in which case, means usually comprising another relay is required to unlock or break the circuit through their coils. Other relays are operated by having battery or ground applied to their coils fromother parts of the system, completing circuits which remain closed until-the battery or ground is removed by the changing conditions in the system. The method by which each relay is operated will be hereinafter described as the circuits therefor are described.

The storage units are divided into two groups,

viz., preferred and deferred, and the control relays are so arranged that the signals stored in the preferred units will be transmitted before those stored in the deferred units. The preferred and deferred storage groups are further divided into first and second storage units. The first preferred storage unit is first in order of selection and will always be given first chance to transmit to the sending circuit. The second preferred is second in order of selection and the deferred units are third in order of selection. Usually the first deferred unit is the first selected of the deferred units but by manually operating a key, the subsequent choice of the deferred units is reversed. In each case the choice depends on whether there are combinations stored in the storage unit to be selected. A storage unit'void of stored combinations automatically loses its preferred position in selection and the unit of the highest order of selection with stored combinations will always be chosen first at the transfers.

These and other features will be pointed out and a better understanding thereof may be had from the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings which describe and show one specific embodiment of the invention. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 diagrammatically illustrates the arrangements of the storage units, the control means and the transmitting distributor, and

Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 show the detail electrical circuits of the complete system.

Referring now to Fig 1, the four above mentioned transmitters are represented at TI, T2, T3 and T4, and will be hereinafter referred to as such. The transmitters are, shown connected to the control means represented as CR which in turn is connected to the transmitting distributor TD. The control means comprise a plu- 'rality of relays by means of which the transmitters are connected one at a time to the transmitting distributor ina predetermined manner from whence the signals are transmitted to the line.

Distributor operation Referring now to Figs. 2 to 5, the operation of the transmitting distributor will first be given. The distributor is adapted to transmit to a dissemination system which employs start-stop receiving units TX, for example of the form known in the art as -A tickers. The construction of this ticker is fully disclosed in U. S. patent to Morton, No. 1,821,110, dated Sept. 1, 1931. The signals which control the tickers must m of the start-stop variety, 1. e., in which each character code group is preceded by a starting impulse and followed by a rest impulse. As the recording units are of the start-stop type, requiring starting and stopping impulses, and the distributor is of the constantly rotating type, means is preferably provided whereby the tickets will not be started and stopped for every revolution of the distributor when there are no character code groups to be transmitted. For this condition a continuous impulse of the same character as the rest impulse is transmitted to the line.

' In the drawings the distributor is indicated by reference numeral 2I and has four sets of rings.

The first set comprises a solid ring 22 which isconnected to positive potential and a segmented ring 23 with segments numbered I to I8. The second set of rings comprises a solid ring 24 to which is connected negative potential and a segmented ring 26 having segments numbered I to I6. The solid ring 21 of the third set is connected to positive potential and the segmented ring 26 has segments numbered I to I6. The fourth set of rings comprises a solid ring 23 which is connected by a conductor 3I to a polarized transmitting relay 32, and a segmented ring 33 having segments numbered I to 8. Each of the four sets of rings has an associated brush 34, 36, 31 and 33 which successively bridge the segments of the segmented rings with their associated solid rings as the distributor rotates; the brushes traveling in unison. The segments of the four segmented rings are connected, as willbe hereinafter described, to various elements of the system.

The manner of transmitting a blank character to the line will now be described. These are the characters that are transmitted when there are no character code groups representing letters. figures, etc. to be transmitted, and for the blank characters the six variable impulses of the signaling code are all spacing. As mentioned, it is desirable when these blank characters are being transmitted by the distributor to prevent the receiving tickers from starting and stopping for each blank character. This is done by changing the spacing start impulse and the six selecting impulses of such signals to marking im- 'pulses. Thus for such signals a continuous marking impulse is transmitted and the manner and equipment by which this is done will now bedescribed.

A group of six polarized transmitting relays M to 46 have the tongues thereof connected to respective segments I to 6 of the segmented ring 33. The marking or right hand contacts of the relays are connected in parallel by a conductor 41 to negative potential at 48. The left hand or spacing contacts of the'relays H to 46 are connected in parallel by conductors 49 and 50 of the eighth segment of ring 33 and to the tongue 52 of a cut-off relay ii. The tongue 52 is also connected to a coil 53 of the relay 5|, the other side of which is grounded. One side of the coils of relays 4| to 46 are grounded by a conductor 54. The other sides of the coils of relays H to 46 are connected through various switching elements, the exact arrangement of which will be hereinafter described, to a set of code selecting contacts. For this part of the explanation it is only necessary to assume that these contacts are capable of being operated in combinations representative of the character code groups to be transmitted and thereby apply combinations of positive and negative current to the coils of the polarized relays H to 46. For a blank character the code selecting contacts cause the tongues of the relays H to 46 to be on their spacing or left hand contacts.

Assume that the brushes 34, 36, 31 and 33 are beginning to bridge the solid rings with the first segments of their associated segmented rings '23, 26, 23 and 33, respectively. Only those circuits completed by the brushes which have reference to the transmission of characters will now be described, the other circuits being described later. As the brush 34 contacts segments I, 2, 3 and 4 of ring 23, positive potential is applied over conductor 56 to a means for changing the selection of the code selecting contacts, to ground; the specific arrangement and circuit therefor will be described later. This will cause the code selecting contacts to be set in accordance with the assumed character which is a blank. This character, however, is not immediately transferred to the transmitting relays 4| to 46. The relays 4| to 46 will remain'set according to the previous character group and as the brush 38 contacts segments to 6 of ring 33, a combination of impulses representative of the settings of the tongues of the relays will pass through the coil 51 of the transmitting relay 32 to ground. These impulses cause'the tongue 58 of relay 32 to vibrate in accordancetherewith, and connect negative and positive potentials thereto, the impulse being transmitted over the line to the receiving units or tickers TK. As the brush 3'! reaches segment |3 of ring 28,- a circuit is completed therefrom over a conductor 59, and through a coil 6| of the cut-off relay| to'ground. This causes the tongue 52 to moveto its marking contact which applies marking battery over conductor 50 to segment 8 of ring 33 and as the brush 38 subsequently contacts this segment a marking impulse is transmitted which adds to the length of the marking rest impulse transmitted from segment I. If the next character had been any other than a blank, the tongue 52 of relay 5| would have been moved to its spacing contact, as will be hereinafter described, before the brush 38 reached segment 80f ring 33. This would cause a spacing start impulse to be transmitted instead of continuing the marking rest impulse. Segment 1 of ring 33 is permanently connected to negative or marking potential. For the blank character the tongue 52 also applies marking battery to the spacing stops of the relays 4! to M which in turn are connected through the tongues of the relays to segments to 6 of ring 33. The tongues of relays 4| to 46 are set in accordance with the position of the code selecting contacts when the brushes 36 and 3? contact segments I i, l5 and i6 of rings 26 and 28, respectively, as will be hereinafter described. Therefore, as the brush 38 subsequently contacts segments to '6 on the next revolution thereof,

negative potential will be transmitted to the relay 32. As described, negative impulses are transmitted when the brush 38 contacts segments 1 and 8, and therefore a continuous flow of negative potential is transmitted for following revolutions oi the brush which continues until a character other than a blank is set up in the code selecting contacts.

The operation of the distributor will no'w be described on the transmission of a character other than a blank. Assume that the positive impulses from segments i to d of ring 23 cause a character code to be set up in the code selecting contacts. This code will be transferred to the polar relays M to 46, as will be hereinafter described, when the brushes 36 and 37 contact segments l4, l5 and it of rings 26 and 28 respectively. The circuit from segments l4, l5 and I6 of ring 26 passes over conductor 62 and through a coil 63 of the cut-off relay 5|. This causes the tongue 52 to contact its spacing contact and in so doing applies spacing potential to segment 8 of ring 33 and to the spacing contacts of the relays 4| to 63. Now, when the brush 38 reaches segment 8 of ring 33, a spacing impulse will be transmitted which is the start impulse. The spacing and marking contacts of the relays to 46 now have respective potentials connected thereto and the tongues are selectively set, and are connected to segments I to 8 of ring 33. Therefore, on the next passage of the brush 38 over segments to 6 a combination of impulses representative of the setting of the tongues of relays 4| to 48 will be transmitted. As the brush 38 subsequently reaches segment I. of ring 33, a marking rest impulse is transmitted and concomitantly the brush 3'! contacts segment l3 of ring 28 and as described "causesthe tongue 52 of relay 5| to move to its marking contact and apply marking battery to segment 8 of ring 33 and to the spacing stops of the relays 41 to 48. However, before the brush 38 reaches segment 8 of ring 33, brush 36 contacts segment I4 of ring 26 and, as heretofore described, when other than blanks are to be transmitted, a circuit is completed through the coil 63 of relay 5|, causing its tongue to move to its spacing contact. Therefore, another starting impulse is transmitted from segment 8 of ring 33 for the next character, provided the character setupin the code selecting contacts is not a blank.

Thus it can readily be seen that the function of thecut-off relay is to prevent the sending of a spacing start impulse and other spacing impulses when there are blanks or no characters set up in the code selecting contacts. Therefore, a steady marking impulse is maintained on the line during the period between characters: tongue of relay 5| is on either of its contacts, a locking circuit is completed through the coil 53 to hold the tongue in its last operated position.

The setting up and transferring of code combinations from the code selecting contacts to the transmitting relays 4! to 48 is the basic operation involved in transmitting to the line. In thissystern there are a plurality of sets of code selecting contacts. The other operations consist of setting up the various sets of code selecting contacts and then choosing and connecting the set of selecting contacts from which it is desired to transmit to the transmitting relays.

In this system three sets of the so-called code selecting contacts are employed. Each contact of each set is controlled by an individual selecting relay. The relays of the first code selecting contact set are controlled by the transmitter Tl, the second set by transmitter T2 and the third set by transmitters T3 and T4.

Selecting relays of transmitter T1 Referring now to Fig. 5, the first transmitter represented at Ti is a metallic storage transmitter, for example of the type disclosed in the above mentioned Wheeler patent. A full description of the operation of this transmitter is not necessary as various suitable storing transmit-.

ters are well known in the art, it being suflicient to say that code combinations of signals are adapted to be stored therein and subsequently transmitted therefrom as will be hereinafter described.

A set of tongues 66 on the transmitting arm of the transmitter T! are adapted to make contact tongue of transmitter T| is connected to one ofthe individual associated neutral relays 68 to 13. The other sides of the relay coils are connected When the in parallel by a conductor I4 to battery. Thus -the relays B8 to"|3 will be operated or remain in their normal position according to the code group set up in the transmitter Tl associated with the current position of the transmitting arm. The relays 68 to I8 comprise what is known as the selecting relays of transmitter TI and functions performed by these relays will be described later. These relays are neutral relays and are similar to other relays to be hereinafter mentioned with aplurality of movable tongues. The tongues of each relay are adapted to move simultaneously when the relay is energized, breaking away from their respective so-called break contacts and making contact with their so-called make contacts. Some tongues have only a break or make contact associated therewith while others have both.

Selecting relays of transmitter T2 The second transmitter T2 is similar to transmitter TI and has a grounded bus bar I6 and a set of movable tongues 'I'I which are connected to the coils of individual associated relays I8 to 83. The other sides of the relay coils are also connected by the conductor I4 to battery. Therefore, these relays will likewise be operated or remain in their normal position according to the position of their associated tongue in transmitter T2. The relays I8 to 83 comprise the selecting relays of the transmitter T2.

. Selecting relays of transmitters T3 and T4 A set of six neutral relays 84 to 89, Fig. 3, comprises what is known as the selecting relays of the two tape transmitters T3 and T4. These transmitters are controlled in the usual manner by a tape but a special switching arrangement has been provided for choosing ,the transmitter which is to set up the code combinations in the selecting relays 84 to 89. A description of the manner in which this choice of tape ransmitters is made will be included later in the description as it is associated with other operations and will be more clearly understood after having described this operation first.

Operation of transmitter T1 The three sets of selecting relays 68 to I8, I8 to 88 and 84 to 89 have been identified and the manner inwhich each group is chosen and allowed to transfer its code combinations to the above mentioned transmitting relays 4| to 46 will be described.

It will be assumed that the system is just being started and that none of the neutral relays is operated, with exceptions hereinafter mentioned. It will also be assumed that the transmitting distributor is transmitting a continuous marking rest impulse as hereinbefore described by means of the cut-off relay '5I. Further assume that nothing but blanks are stored in the transmitters TI to T4 and that the impulses for operating the transmitters are being cut off as will be hereinafter described in conjunction with the autostop operation. With blanks in the transmitters none of the code selecting relays will be operated.

Let it be supposed that transmitter TI subsequently has some character code combinations stored therein. Due to the construction of the storing transmitter TI, the transmitting arm is two characters behind the setting-up arm and means must be provided to step the transmitting arm ahead to pick up the stored character groups. A further means must then be provided whereby hereinafter described switching relays can switch the contacts of the associated code selecting relays 68 to I3 to the transmitting relays 4| to 46.

As the character groups are stored in the transmitter TI, the setting-up arm is stepped ahead restoration of the auto-stop mechanism to nor-- mal, the next passageof the brush 84 over segments I to 4 of ring 28 completes a circuit from battery at the solid ring 22, over the brush 84,

through segments to 4 of ring 28, over con ductor 56, through the tongue 93 and break contract of a relay 94, over conductor 96, through the break contact and tongue 81 01' a relay 88, continuing over conductor 99, through the tongue IM and break stop of relay 9|, over conductor I02 and through the coil of transmitting arm operating magnet I08 of the storing transmitter TI to ground. Under the assumed conditions the brush 84' will complete the above circuit for every revolution thereof and advance the transmitting arm one step for each revolution, the cut-off relay meanwhile continuing its transmission of a marking rest impulse.

The second step of the transmitting arm causes 4 selected pins in the storing transmitter to be engaged and thereby operates associated tongues 66 to make contact with the grounded bus bar 61 in combinations representative of the first character group stored in transmitter TI. The operated tongues complete circuits from the grounded bus bar 61 through the coils of their associated code selecting relays 68 to I3 to battery and thus one or more of the relays are operated in a combination representative of the first setting of the pins in the transmitting drum. Tongues I04 of relays 68 to I3 are connected in parallel by a conductor I06 and through the coil of a relay 88 to battery. Associated make contacts 01' the tongues I04 are connected in parallel by conductor IN to ground. Thus as any one of the selecting relays 68 to I8 is operated, the circuit to relay 98 is completed which operates the same. The function of relay 98 will be heinafter described.

As the brushes 36 and 31. contact segments I4, I5 and I6 of their associated rings 26 and 28 subsequent to the operation of the selecting relays 68 to I3, the combination set therein is transferred to the transmitting relays 4| to 46. One side of each coil or the transmitting relays 4| to 46 is grounded by conductor 54 and the other side is connected by individual conductors of a cable I05 to associated tongues I08 of a relay I09. The break contacts associated with the tongues I08 are connected by a cable III to respective associated tongues II2 of a relay H8. The break contacts of relay II3 associated with the tongues I I2 are connected by a cable II4 to respective tongues I I6 of the selecting relays 68 to I8. The break contacts of relays 68 to I3 associated with the tongues I I6 are connected in parallel by a conductor III to segments I4, I5 and I6 of the ring 28. The make contacts associated with the tongues I I6 are connected in parallel by a conductor II8, through a tongue II9 and break contact of relay 9|, over a conductor I2I through the coil 68 of the cut-off relay 5| and over conductor 62 to segments I4, I5 and I6 of ring 26. Thus, as. the brushes 36 and 31 contact segments I4, I5 and I6 or rings 26 and 28, marking and spacing potential is applied to the make and break contacts respectively associated with the tongues H6 0! relays 68 to I3. The tongues of the relays 68 to I3 are set in a combination representative of the settingof the tongues 66 of the transmitter TI and therefore marking and described circuits to the coils of the transmitting relays 4| to 46 to operate the same in a similar combination. The transmitting relays ii to 48 in turn, subsequently apply a similar combination of marking and spacing potentials to segments I to 6 of the ring 33 as hereinafter described.

One or more of the tongues H6 01' relays 08 to 13 will be operated to its marking contact because the combination is not a blank and therefore as the brush 36 contacts segments I4, I5 and I3 of ring 23, negative battery is applied through the coil 63 of the cut-off relay 5| to ground through the above described circuits including the coil of one or more of the'transmitting relays 4| to 46. This marking impulsemoves the tongue of relay 5| to its spacing contact which in turn applies positive potential to segment 3 to ring 33 and to the spacing contacts of the transmitting relays 4| to 46. Therefore,

' when the brush 38 subsequently contacts segment 3 of ring 33, a spacing start impulse will be transmitted to the line as hereinbefore described. The tongues of the transmitting relays 4| to 43 being operated in accordance with the code combination apply spacing and marking potentials from respective contacts thereof to respective segments I to 3 of the ring 33. On the next pas-- sage of the brush 33\over these segments a corresponding character code will be transmitted to the line followed by a markingrest impulse from segment 1.' Thus the first combination set up in the pins in the storing transmitter TI is transmitted to the line and this transmitter is in control of the circuits. 4

Up to this point the stepping impulses for the operating magnet I03 of the transmitter TI were derived from segments I to 4 of ring 23 and passed through the armature 93 and break contact of relay 94,-the tongue 91 and break contact of relay 98, conductor 99 and the armature I01 and break contact of relay 9|. It will be remembered that 'relay 99 was operated when one or more of the selecting relays 68 to 13 are energized and therefore this circuit to the operating magnet I03 is broken. However, the operation of-relay 98 completes another circuit to the operating magnet I03 in conjunction with the brush 31. This circuit is from positive battery at ring 21, over brush 31, through the segments I to 3 of ring 28; over a conductor I24,

through the break contact and associated tongue I23 of a relay I21, over a conductor I28, through break contact and associated tongue I29 of a relay -I3I, continuing over a conductor I32, through the tongue I33 and break contact of relay 94, over conductor I34 and through the make contact and associated tongue I36 of relay 98 to the conductor 99. The circuit from here on to the operating magnet I03 has been described.

Thus after the operation of relay 98 operating impulses for the magnet I03 come from the segments I to 3 of ring 28. This renders the impulsesfrom the segments I to 4 of ring 23 available for other operations as will be described.

Auto-stop operation As is well known to those versed in the art, the auto-stop on astoring transmitter is a mechanismwhich breaks the circuit to the transmitting arm operating magnet when said arm approaches within a predetermined number of combinations of the setting-uparm. Assume that after the transmission of a plurality of combinatlons the transmitting arm approaches the setting-up arm. Unless some means were provided for stopping the transmitting arm, the

two arms would jam and cause trouble. Therefore, when the transmitting arm approaches within two combinations of the setting-up arm, an auto-stop contact I31 on transmitter TI is mechanically opened. This occurs concomitantly with passage of the brush 31 over segments I, 2 and 3 of ring 23. The brush 36 subsequently contacts segments I0, II and I2 of ring 23 and an impulse is sent therefrom over a conductor I38 to a point I39. With the auto-stop contact closed, the impulse from segments I0, II and I2 of ring 23 divides at point I39; half going through the right hand coil of relay 9|, over conductor I4! and through the auto-stop contact I31 to the grounded bu's bar 61, the other half going through the make-before-break contacts I43 of relay 9|, over conductor I43 and through the left hand coil of relay 3| to ground. The two coils of relay 9| are opposed and therefore with contact I31 circuited and thus the current in the left hand coil will operate the relay 3|. As the relay 9| operates, the make-before-break contact M3 opens the circuit from segments II], II and 12 of ring 26 to the left hand coil of relay 3| and applies negative potential over the tongue I46 of the make-before-break contact I43, over conductor I44, causing the relay to become locked in its operated position. When the tongue |I of relay 9| is operated, it opens the circuit to the operating magnet I03 of the transmitting arm. Thus, further impulses to the operating magnet I03 are cut off as long as the relay 9| remains operated which prevents the transmitting arm from advancing. However, the combination which is stored in the drum at the position .where the transmitting arm is halted will still be efiective on the tongues 96. They in turn are still effective on the code selecting relays 68 to 13 and unless some means is provided to prevent it, this combination will be repeated over and over each time the brush 38 passes over the segments I to G of ring 33 as this combination is transferred to the transmitting relays 4| to 46 every time the brushes 36 and 31 contact the segments I4, I and iii of rings 26 and 28. As described above, the circuit to the make contacts associated with the tongues H6 of relays 68 to 13 passed through the tongue I19 and break contactof relay 9|. Through these make contacts marking potential was supplied to the transmitting relays 4| to 46 in combinations representative of the operated relays as the brush 36 con-- tacted segments I4, I5 and I6 of ring 26. When the relay 9| is operated, however, the circuit supplying marking potential to these makecontacts is opened and said make contacts are connected through the tongue I I9 and make contact of relay 9| and over a conductor I41 to the conductor 1. Now, when the'brush 31 contacts segments I4, I5 and I6 of ring 28, spacing potential is applied to both the make and break contacts of relays 68 to 13 associated with tongues spacing, and as described will cause a marking rest impulse to be transmitted as the brush36 contacts segment 6 of ring 33. The rest impulse is continued throughout subsequent revolutions of the brush 36 as hereinbefore described until the cut-oil relay 5| is operated to spacing. Thus the combination which is stored in the selecting relays 66 to 13 will not ,be transmitted, but will remain stored until the setting-up arm of transmitter TI moves ahead and allows the auto-stop contact I31 to close.

When the auto-stop contact I31 eventually closes the relay BI will remain operated until the brush 36 contacts segments II), II and I2 of ring 26, which supplies a negative impulse over conductor I36, through the right hand coil of relay 3|, over conductor MI and through the autostop contact I31 to ground. This time this impulse will pass only through the right hand coil of relay 9i because the circuit to the left hand coil is open at the make-before-brealrcontact I43. This impulse passing through the right hand coil of relay 6| will neutralize the eiiect of the locking circuit through the left hand coil, releasing the armatures and allowing the relay to return to normal. Now, when the brushes 36 and 31 reach segments I4, I5 and I6 of rings 26 and 26, transmission will again be resumed as the system is restored to the condition described in conjunction with the transmission of the first combination and the next combination to be transmitted will be the one that was stored in the selecting relays 66 to 13.

Transferring fromtransntitter T1 to T2 Up to this point it has been assumed that transmitter TI is the only transmitter which has had any character combinations stored therein. However, while the combinatons in transmitter TI were being transmitted, the other transmitters may have had combinations stored therein and let it be assumed that transmitter T2 has combinations stored in its drum, these combinations being stored while transmitter TI had control of the circuits and was transmitting to the line.

As the setting-up arm of transmitter T2 advances, the auto-stop mechanism is restored to normal. This auto-stop mechanism is substantially the same as that of transmitter TI and its operation will be described later. with the autostop in its normal unoperated condition, the relay I5I will be unoperated and a circuit will be completed from segments 4, 5 and 6 of ring 26, over a conductor I52, through the tongue I53 and break contact of relay 34, over a conductor I54, through the break contact and tongue I56 of a relay I51, over a conductor I56, through the tongue I59 and break contact of relay I5I, overconductor I6I and through the coil of the transmitting arm operating magnet I62 to ground. Therefore, for these conditions as the brush 31 contacts these segments an impulse will be received by the magnet I62 causing it to advance the transmitting arm one step for each revolution of the brush. On the second step. of the transmitting arm the tongues 11 of transmitter T2 will be operated in a combination representative of the first combination stored in the drum. This combination will in turn be transmitted to the associated code selecting relays 16 to 63, as one side of each of the relays are.connected by conductor 14 to battery and the other sides are connected to ground at the bus bar 16 through individual circuits completed by the respective tongues 11 when operated. A tongue I63 0! each of the relays 16 to 63 is connected in parallel by a conductor I64 through the coil of relay I51 to battery. The associated make contacts of tongues I63 are connected in parallel by conductor I61 to ground. Therefore, as one or more 0! the relays 16 to are operated, the circuit to relay I51 is completed which operates the same. This condition is established when the transmitting arm engages the first set of selected pins in the drum oi transmitter T2. With relay I51 operated, the circuit from segments 4, 5 and 6 of ring 26 to the transmitting arm operating magnet I62 is opened at the tongue I56 of relay I51 and following passages ot the brush 31 over these segments will not advance the transmitting arm. Thus the transmitting arm of transmitter T2 remains engaged with the first set of selected pins in the drum and is now prepared to take control 01' the circuits at the next opportunity oifered by the transmitter TI as will be described.

Each group or plurality of groups of combinations in each storing unit are separated by one or more blanks, usually several blanks, when a substantial length of time elapses between the setting .up of these groups. More specifically, after setting up combinations in the storing transmitters, if there are no more combinations to be immediately set up, a series of blanks are set up in the drum. In the tape used with the tape transmitter these blanks take the form of tape steppers or blanks in the tape. These may be inserted between the groups automatically or manually and their purpose is to insure that all the stored combinations will be transmitted before the associated auto-stop devices stop the advancement of the transmitting arms or tape in the storing and tape transmitters respectively for a prolonged period of time. The occurrence oi a blank character in transmitter TI renders transmitter T2 operative.

Assume that there are no more combinations in transmitter TI and that the transmitting arm is associated with one of the above mentioned blanks. As described, this condition returns all of the code selecting relays 66 to 13 to normal and consequently releases the relay 36 allowing it also to return to its normal unoperated position. When this occurs, the circuits are ready to be switched to the transmitter T2. Assuming that the time required for relay 68 to become deenerglzed is greater than the length of time that the brush 31 is in contact with segments I, 2 and 3 of ring 26, the following contact of brush 31 with these segments completes the following circuit; from battery at ring 21, over brush 31, through segments I, 2 and 3 of ring 28, over conductor I24, through the break contact and tongue I26 of relay I21, over conductor I26, through the break contact and tongue I26 of relay I 3|, over conductor I32, through the tongue I33 and break contact of relay 94, over conductor I34, through the break contact and tongue I66 of relay 96, over conductor I61, through the tongue I66 and make contact of relay I51, these last two relays being deenergized and energized respectively as described above, over conductor I69, continuing through the break contact and tongue "I of relay 94, over conductor I 12 and through the coil of relay II3 to ground. This energizes relay 1| 3 which is locked in an operated condition by a circuit through its tongue I13 and make contact, over conductor I14 and through the tongue I16 and break contact of a relay I11 to battery.

A tongue I16 of each of the code selecting remitting relays.

lays 18 to 83-of transmitter T2 is connected by an individual conductor of cable II4 to the respective make contacts associated with the tongues II2 of relay 3. The tongues II2 of relay II3 are connected as described above through breakcontacts and tongues of relay I09 to respective coils of the transmitting relays 4I- to 46. Therefore, for these conditions, when the relay H3 is energized, tongues II6 of the selecting relays 68 to I3 of transmitter TI are disconnected from respective coils of the transmitting relays H to 46 and the tongues I18 of the selecting relays 18 to 83 connected to respective'coils of the trans- The operation of relay II3 also applies ground through a make contact and tongue I19 thereof over conductor IBI and through the coil of relay 94 to battery; and thereby operating relay 94.

Transmission from transmitter T2 The transmission of the combinations stored in the drum of metallic storage transmitter T2 will now be described and it may be helpful to keep in mind that relays II3, I51 and 94 involved in the hereinafter described circuits are operated. As brush 31 contacts segmentl3 of ring 28, the tongue of cut-off relay is actuated against its marking contact in the same mannerv as when the transmitter TI was sending. Then as the brushes 36 and 31 subsequently contact segments I4, I5 and I6 of rings 26 and 28 respectively, the combination stored in the selecting relays 78 to 03 will be transferred to the transmitting relays M to 46 as said brushes apply marking and spacing potential to the make and break contacts associated with the tongues I18 of said selecting relays. This transfer is accomplished in substantially thesame manner as the transfer from the selecting relays 68 to I3 which was described above. The combination transferred from'the relays I8 to 83 is the one which previously caused the operation of relay I51. During the transfer operation the cut-off relay 5I is operated to spacing causing the brush 38 to transmit a spacing start impulse which is followed by six code impulses representative of the setting of relays 4i to 46 and a rest impulse. In the meantime the next combination will be set up in the selecting relays I8 to 83. concomitantly with the transmission of the first combination to the line, the

brush 31 contacts segments 'I, 2 and 3 of ring 28 and sends an impulse therefrom over conductor I24, through the break contact and tongue I26 of relay I21, over conductor I28, through the break contact and tonguel29 of relay I3I, over conductor I32, through the tongue I33 and make contact of relay 94, over conductor I82, through the make contact and tongue I56 of relay I51, over conductor I58, through the tongue I59 and break contact of relay I5I, over conductor I6I and through the coil of the transmitting arm operating magnet I62 to ground. This steps the transmitting arm ahead to engage the next set of selected pins in the transmitter .drum and the representative combination is subsequently transmitted in the same manner as the first described combination.

The operation of the auto-stop mechanism on transmitter T2 is similar to that described above in connection with transmitter TI. Relay I5I has two opposed coils, like relay 9|, and with transmitter T2 in control of the circuits, an impulse is transmitted to relay I5I as brush 3! contacts segments I0, II and I2 of ring 28. If the auto-stop contact is closed, this impulse divides, half going through each coil of relay I5I and not operating it. However, if the transmitting arm of the transmitter T2 has approached within two combinations of the setting-up arm. the auto-stop contact I88 will be opened, and the impulse from segments I0, II and I2 will operate the relay I5I; The relay I5I is locked in its operated condition by a circuit through its make-before-break contact I84 and will remain energized until the setting-up arm advances to let the auto-stop contact I83 close, whereupon the nextimpulse from segments I0, II and I2 of ring 28 will neutralize the locking circuit, allowing the relay I5I to return to normal. With relay I5I operated, the circult to the transmitting'arm stepping magnet I82 is broken and meanwhile the cut-off relay 5I will cause a long marking rest impulse to be transmitted in the same manner as the rest impulse was transmitted when the auto-stop contact I31 of transmitter TI was opened.

At the time that transmitter T2 took control of the circuits, transmitter-TI may have had a plurality of blanks between its setting-up and transmitting arms and it is desirable that the transmitting arm approach within the minimum two steps of the setting-up arm. This is accomplished by continuing the impulses to the transmitting arm operating magnet I03 untilthe autostop contact I31 is opened. It will be recalled that at the time transmitter T2 took control of the circuits relay II3 was energized which in turn caused relay 94 to be energized. The energization of relay 94 completes a circuit from segments 4, 5 and 6 of ring 28, over conductor I52, through the tongue I53 and make contact of relay 94, over a conductor I86, through the break contact and tongue I36 of relay 98 and over conductor 99 through the tongue IM and break contact of relay 9i to the transmitting arm operating magnet I03. Thus for these conditions, each contact of the brush with segments 4, 5 and I3 will cause the transmitting arm to be advanced one step and continue to do so until the auto-stop contact I3! is opened, which in turn opens the circuit to the operating magnet I03 as hereinbefore described with the transmitting arm two steps behind the setting-up arm.

Transfer from transmitter T2 to T1 Assume that while the transmitter T2 had control of the circuits and was sending to the line, its stored combinations, additional characters had been stored in transmitter TI. At the next opportunity offered by transmitter T2, transmit ter TI will again take control of the circuits and send its stored combinations to the line. The tape transmitters T3 and T4 may also have combinations stored in their associated tapes ready to be transmitted by their respective transmitters, but due to the predetermined order of selection,

the preferred transmitter TI will be allowed to transmit its combinations first. This feature comprises one of the novel elements of this invention and will now be described in detail.

When the storing of combinations in transmitter T2 is completed for the time being, a plurality of blanks are stored, therein. As described, this allows all the stored combinations to be transblank, all the selecting relays I8 to 83 will be returned to their normal unoperated position. This in turn causes the deenergization of relay I51.

When the transmitter TI begins to have combinations stored therein while transmitter T2 is transmitting, the advancement of the settingup arm allows the auto-stop contact I81 to close. Thereupon relay 9I is deenergized and completes the above described circuit from segments 4, 5 and 8 of ring 28 through the contacts of relays 94, 98 and 9i to the operating magnet I88 the transmitting arm, Impulses from segments 4, and 8 will then cause the transmitting arm of the transmitter TI to be advanced until the blank characters are cleared out and the contacts thereof engage a row of selected pins in the drum. As described, this will cause the selective operation of the selecting relays 88 to 18 which in turn cause the operation of relay 98. Relay 98 in turn opens the circuit of the transmitting arm operating magnet I83 and thereby halts the advancementof said arm with the tongues 65 in contact with the first stored combination in its associated drum. Now, when the next blank in transmitter T2 is associated with the contacts of its transmitting arm, the control of the operation of the distributor transmitter will be transferred back to transmitterTI. This blank allows all of the selecting relays 18 to 88 to return to their normal unoperated position which in turn causes the deenergization of relay I51. Now, as

the brush 31 contacts segments I, 2 and 8 of ring 28, an impulse will be transmitted over conductor I24, through the break contact and tongue I26 of relay I21, over conductor I28, through the break contact and tongue I29 of relay I3'I, over.

conductor I32, through the tongue I33 and make contact of relay, over conductor I82, through the break contact and tongue I81 of relay I51, over conductor I88, through the tongue I89 and make contact of relay 98 and over conductor I9I through the coil of relay I11 to ground. This impulse energizes relay I11 which in operating breaks the locking circuit of relay H3. H3 returns to its normal condition, the tongues I18 of the selecting relays 18 to 83 are disconnected from the coils of the transmitting relays 4| to 46 and the tongues H8 01' the selecting relays 88 to 13 of transmitter TI connected thereto. At the same time the tongue I19 of relay I I8 breaks the circuit of relay 94 allowing it to return to normal. Now the circuits are restored to the same conditions that they were in when transmission first began from transmitter TI and transmitter TI begins to transmit its second group of combinations as described above. In the meantime impulses are being transmitted to the transmitting arm. operating magnet I82 of transmitter T2 from segments 4, 5 and 6 of ring 28 over conductor I52, through the tongue I53 and break contact of relay 94, over conductor I54, through the break contact and tongue I58 of relay I51 over conductor I58 and through the tongue I59 and break contact of relay I5I to the operating magnet I82 since several blanks are preferably stored in the transmitter at the end of each group of characters. continue to advance the transmitting arm until the auto-stop contact I83 is opened or a-combination other than a blank is set up in the code selecting relays 18 to 83 causing either the relay I5I or relay I51 to operate and open the circuit to the operating magnet I52, as described above.

From the above description it is evident that the main function involved in switching from one storing transmitter to the other is the oper- As relay These impulses arvaoao ating of the relay 8. All other operations lead up to the point for this operation and allow it to take place only after the complete transmission oi the group of combinations-storedin the transmitting transmitter.

, The report of each sale on an exchange necessitates the transmission of a plurality of code combinations usually divided into three groups. The first group represents the stock or commodity sold; the second group the number of shares or the amount of the commodity sold and the third group represents-the price at which the shares or commodities sold. The first group usually consists of letters and the second and third groups numerals and fractions, respectively. The

combined three groups are referred to as a single 'quotation.

'It would lead to much confusion if the switchover from one transmitter to another occurred while a quotation was only partly transmitted and the novel means by which the switchover.

in the middle of a quotation is prevented constitutes one of the features of this invention. Referring to the above description, the switchover can take place only when either of the relays 98 and I51 associated with the transmitter which Therefore, the quotations are not broken up or subdivided. If the transmission from a transmitter is halted by the auto-stop with a quotation partly transmitted, the switchover cannot occur because either of the relays 98 and I51 associated with this auto-stopped transmitter will be energized and as hereinbefore described, prevent said switching operation.

Metallic storage transmitters of the type of TI and T2 have a limited storage capacity, determined by the number of sets of pins in their drums. In the event that one of the transmitters in control of the sending circuits should keep control of said circuits for a prolonged length of time by not transmitting any blanks to switch the control to the other transmitter, the number of combinations stored in the meantime in said other metallic storage transmitter may approach the capacity thereof. For this contingency a means is provided in connection with each storing transmitter to signal the operators at keyboards'setting up combinations in the respective transmitter drums that the number of stored combinations in their respective transmitters is approaching the capacity thereof, as hereinafter described. A contact (not shown) on the transmitting arm of each metallic storage transmitter is adapted to be.closed by the associated settingup arm whenever the setting up arm approaches within a predetermined number of combinations of the transmitting arm. The closing of these contacts completes circuits to signal lamps (not shown) located adjacent the keyboard associated with respective transmitters.

T4, and the transfer or the control of the distributorrtransmitter from the relays 68 to 13 to -contacts thereof to the selecting relays 68 M13 and 10 to 83, respectively, of the storing transmitters TI and T2. The tongues I08 are connected to the coils of the transmitting relays 4! to 46. Thus the major function in switching from either of the metallic storing transmitters T5 or T2 to the tape transmitters is the operation of relay I09. If one or both of the tape' transmitters are in a condition .to transmit, i. e., have perforated tape ready to be run through their respective transmitters, a combination will be set up in the code selecting relays 88 to 89 as will be hereinafter described. Also if the relays. 98 and I51 are not operated, indicating that there are no combinations stored in either of their associated metallic storing transmitters TI and T2, the circuits will immediately be set up for operating the relay I09 for switching the selecting relays 84 to 89 into control of the transmitting relays M to 46. The method of switching the transmitting relays H to 46 from transmitter TI or T2 to transmitter T3 or T4 will first bedescribed, after which the method of selecting either of the two transmitters T8 and T9 will be given.

Assume that transmitter TI is in control 01' the transmitting circuits and the opportunity arises to allow the tape transmitting channel to transmit its stored combinations. A further assumption must be made that transmitter T2 has no stored combinations, otherwise that transmitter will be selected because of its predetermined order of selection, and in this assumption relay I51 will not be operated. The combination set up in the selecting relays 84 to 89 corresponds to the first perforated character in the tape waiting in one of the two tape transmitters. The manner in which the first character is stepped into the waiting transmitter will be explained hereinafter.

A relay I94 (Fig. 3) has one side-of its coil connected to ground and the other side connected by a conductor I96 in parallel with the tongues I91 of the first five tape transmitting channel selecting relays 84 to 88. The make contacts associated with the tongues I91 are connected in parallel by a conductor I98, through the break contact and tongue I68 of relay I51, over conductor I61, through the tongue I66 and break contact of relay 98, over conductor I34, through the break contact and tongue I33 of relay 94, over conductor I32 through the tongue I29 and break contact of relay I3I, over conductor I28, through the tongue I26 and break contact of relay I21 and over conductor I 24 to segments I, 2 and 3 of ring 28. Thus with a combination set up on the relays 84 to 89 one or more of the tongues I91 will be in contact with its make contact and complete a circuit from segments I, 2 and 3 of ring 28 to the' coil of relay I94, provided the relays 94, 98 and I51 are deenerglzed "as they are when no combinations are set up in the selecting relays of transmitters TI and T2. Therefore, as the-brush 31 subsequently contacts segments I, 2 and3 of ring 28, the relay I94 will be energized which in turn completes a? circuit from battery at the make contact'of its tongue I99, over conductor 2III and through the coil of relay I09 to ground, causing relay I09 to operate. As relay I09 operates, it is locked in its operated position by its tongue 202 completing a circuit through its make contact over a conductor 203 and through the break contact and tongue 204 of relay I3I to negative potential. Relay I09 in operating also connects the code selecting relays 80'to 89 to the transmitting relays 4| to 48 and disconnects the selecting relays previously connected thereto. Thus the tongues I92 of the tape transmitter selecting relays 84 to 89 are connected to the coils of the transmitting relays and the circuits are prepared for one of the two tape transmitters to operate. Another function of relay I09 in operating, is the applying'of ground through its tongue 206 and make contact over conductor 201 and through the coil of relay I21 to negative potential, which in turn causes this relay to operate. The circuits completed and broken by the operation of relay I21 will be described hereinafter.

In switching the control of the transmitting relays H to 46 from the selecting relays 18 to- 8,3 of transmitter T2 to the selecting relays 84 to 09 of the tape transmitting, channel, the operation is substantially the same as switching from the relays 68 to 13 tothe relays 84 to 89. However, as in this instance transmitter T2 was previously transmitting the relay 94 .will be energized. Now the circuit for operating the relay I94 is as described above from segments I, 2 and 3 of ring 28 to the tongue I33 of relay 94. The circuit continues from there through the make contact 'of tongue I33, over conductor I82, through. the

break contactand tongue I 81 of relay I51, over conductor I88, through the tongue I89 and break contact of relay 98, through the break contact and tongue I66 of the same relay, over conductor I61, through the tongue I68 and break contact of relay l51 and from there, as previously described, through the relay I94 to ground. Thus the control of the transmitting relays is switched from the selecting relays 18 .to 83 to the selecting relays 84 to 94 when the brush 31 subsequently contacts segments I, 2 and 3 of ring 28.

It will be noted that in the case of switching 'quired to perform a plurality of functions,

switching about of such impulses is required, and

the necessity for these involved circuits will be self-evident as the description proceeds.

, Operation of transmitters2'3 andv T4 The two tape transmitters are represented at the bottom. of Fig. 5 at T3 and T4. Each transmitter has six movable -tongues208 and 209 adapted to make contact with their respective marking and spacingbus bars 2 and 2I2 in combinations representative of the perforations in associated perforated tapes. The tongues 208 and 209 of t he transmitters are connected by individual conductors of a cable 2I3 to the tongues 2 and 2I6 of relays 2I1 and 2I9 re spectively. Break contacts of relays 2I1 and 2I8 associated with the tongues 2 and 2I6 are connected by individual conductors of a cable 2I9 to break and make contacts, respectively,

- sociated with the first perforation.

associated with tongues 22l of a relay 222. The tongues 22I of relay 222 are connected by conductors of a cable 223 to one side of the coils of the selecting relays 84 to 89. The other sides of the coils are connected in parallel by a conductor 224 to negative potential. Thus with relays 2H and H8 unoperated the relay 222 determines which set of tongues 208 or 209 of respective transmitters T3 and T4 will be connected to the coils of the selecting relays 84 to 89. Each of the tape transmitters T3 and T4 has an operating or tape stepping magnet 226 and 221, respectively, which advance the tape therein and selectively operate the tongues in accordance with the perforations in the tape, for example as shown in the above mentioned Benjamin patent. Each of the tape transmitters also has auto-stop mechanisms including contacts 254 and 263 which when operated, as well known ,to those versed in the art, function to halt the passage of the tape through a transmitter and concomitantly energize the magnets 226 and 221 to withdraw the selecting pins from the tape and the transmitter functions as if blank tape were being stepped through it.

As noted, with one of the storing transmitters Tl or T2 in control of the transmitting circuits, impulses are supplied to the transmitting arm operating magnet of the other storing transmitter until the auto-stop contact is opened or the transmitting arm engages the first row of selectively operated pins. In each case means were then provided to halt the advance of the transmitting arm and in the second case the first combination was held ready for transmission at the next opportunity. Likewise, the same general conditions are established in the tape transmitters, impulses being sent to their operating magnets to advance the tape until their auto-stop functions or the selecting pins are as- At these points the advancement of the tape must be halted.

As with the storing transmitters a blank combination or one wherein the variable impulses are ordinarily all spacing is employed in transferring from or to the tape transmitters. These blanks are represented in tapes by a transverse section with no holes with the exception of the feed holes and are sometimes called tape steppers. The operation of the auto-stop mechanism causes the tape transmitter to function as if blank tape were being stepped through it and unless some means were provided to prevent it, a transfer could take place when the auto-stop functions. This condition occurring in the midst of a quotation would be objectionable. Also, if the auto-stop mechanism should function while blank tape is in the tape transmitter, the switching operation to some other transmitter should not be blocked out as this transmitter would have control of the system and not be sending to it while the other transmitter may in the meantime .have combinations to transmit. This condition actually occurs when the tape transmitter in control of the sending circuit completes for the time being the transmission of its stored combinations. The manner in which the two above objections are eliminated constitutes novel features of this invention and will be described later.

At the time of switching from' a metallic storage transmitter to the tape transmitting channel, transmitter T3 will automatically be chosen to transmit. However, if its auto-stop is operated indicating it has no combinations to transmit, transmitter T4 will automatically be switched into the control of the selector relays 84 to 39 if it has combinations stored therefor. If while transmitter T4 is operating, transmitter T3 receives combinations to transmit and the storing transmitters have not called for the circuits, a key must be manually operated after which the transmitting circuits will be switched to transmitter T3 at the next blank occurring in the tape of the then transmitting transmitter T4. Likewise, operating the key will cause the switch to be made in the opposite direction if transmitter T3 had been sending and it was desired to switch to transmitter T4. In each of the above cases, if one of the storing transmitters had had combinations to transmit at the time a blank occurred in the tape of the transmitting tape transmitter, the transfer function of the key would have for the time being been nullified, but the operation of the key would cause the tape transmitter which was to have been selected, to be selected when the tape transmitting channel is again connected to the transmitting relays.

Operation of transmitter T3 During the time combinations were' being transmitted from transmitters TI and T2, stepping impulses were being supplied to the operating magnets 226 and 221 of transmitters T3 and T4. These impulses advance the perforated tape to operate their associated autostops or to bring a character other than a blank into register with the selecting pins, at which times further stepping impulses were blocked out as will be hereinafter described. Until such conditions did occur, the impulses to the stepping magnet of the tape transmitter T3 were from segments 1, 8 and 9 of ring 26 over a conductor 229 through the tongue 23l and break contact of a relay 232, over a conductor 233, through the break contact and tongue 234 of relay I21, over a conductor 236, through a series arrangement of tongues 231 and break contacts of the first five relays of the selecting relays 84,to 89, over a conductor 238, through the tongue 239 and break contact of relay I21, over conductor 2, through the tongue 242 and break contact of relay 232, over a conductor 243 and in parallel to the break contacts associated with the tongues 244 and 246 of relays 2H and 2l8 respectively. As hereinafter described, for the assumed conditions relays 2H and 2l8 will be unoperated and operated, respectively, which allows the circuit to be continued only through the tongue 244 of relay 2l1. The circuit from the tongue 244 continues over a conductor 241 through the tongue 248 and break contact of a relay 248, over a conductor 25l, in parallel through both coils of the auto-stop relay 252- of transmitter T3 and over a conductor 253 through the operating magnet 226 to ground. The circuit for advancing the blank tape in, transmitter T4 is from segments I, 2 and 3 of ring 26 over a conductor 281, through the tongue 289 and break contact of relay 232, over a conductor 29!, through the make contact and tongue 246 of relay 2", over a conductor 256 through the tongue 251 and break contact of a relay 258, over a conductor 259, in parallel through both coils of the auto-stop relay 26l of transmitter T4 and over a conductor 262 through the associated operating magnet 221 to ground. Relays 252 and 26l are double coil relays with the windstop contacts 254 and 263. The operation of the auto-stop relays will be described later. Thus stepping impulses are supplied to the operating magnets of transmitters T3 and T4 as long as their auto-stops remain closed and no combinations have been stepped into association with the selecting pins.

Let it be assumed that the transmitter T3 is to be responsible for switching the control of the transmitting relays from'a set of storing transmitter selecting relays to the tape channel selecting relays 84 to 89. As described, relay I99 performed this switching function which is controlled by relay I94, which in turn received its operating impulse from segments I, 2 and 3 of ring 28 when the conditions were as assumed. Relay I99 in operating causes relay I21 to operate which connects segments 4, and 6 of ring 26 by a conductor 264 through the tongue 266 and make contact of relay I21 and then over conductor 24I and the described circuit to the operating magnet 226 of transmitter T3. The stepping circuit for advancing the blank tape in transmitter T4 is not disturbed by the operationof the above mentioned relays and continues to be supplied from segments I, 2 and 8 of ring 26 as described above. The stepping impulse for. transmitter T3 immediately follows the-impulse which operates relay I64 and if some means were, not provided to prevent it, this impulse would operate the magnet 226 and advance the tape another step. This would step the perforation in the tape that caused the switching operation, to he stepped out of operative relation with the selecting pins before it was transferred to the transmitting relays and thereby causing the loss of the first combination every time a switch to the tape transmitting channel was made. Relays 232 and 261 are provided to block out this first stepping impulse, at the time the switch is made. As relay I94 causes the operation of relay I99, it also causes the operation of relay 232 by applying negative potential through its make contact and tongue 268 and over conductor 269 through the coil of relay 232 to ground. Relay 232 is locked in its operated position by a circuit through its tongue 2H and make contact and over conductor 2l2 through the tongue and break contact of relay 261 to negative potential. Thus when relay I94 operates by an impulse from segments I, 2 and 3 of ring 28, it in turn causes relay 232 to operate which at its tongue 242 opens the circuit from segments 4, 5 and 6 of ring 26 to the stepping magnet of transmitter T3. As relay 232 oprates its tongue 289 opens the described stepping circuit to transmitter T4 from segments I, 2 and 3 of ring 26. The breaking of this circuit performs no useful function at the time and its purpose will be'evident As the brush 36 subsequently contacts segments 1, 8 and 9 of ring 26, an impulse passes over the conductor 229 through the tongue 23I and make contact of relay 232 and over a conductor 214 through the coil of relay 261 to ground, thus momentarily operating said relay. This relay in operating interrupts the locking circuit of relay 232 which returns to normal and restores the stepping circuits to transmitters T3 and T4 which were interrupted by the operation'thereof. Thus thestepping impulse which would ordinarily immediately follow the switching operation to the tape transmitting channel is blocked out for one and only one revolution of the brush 36. This operation is completed each time a switch is made to one of the tape transmitting channels, or when a switch is made between two tape transmitters.

In assuming that the conditions are set up to switch to and transmit from transmitter T3, it

must also be assumed that relays 222 and 2I1 are unoperated at this time and also that one of the storing transmitters is in control while tape is being perforated fortransmitter T3.

Before the switch to the tape transmitting channel was made, as described, relays I98 and I 21 are unoperated. Also, with blank tape in transmitter T3, all the relays 84 to 89 will be unoperated as the circuits to the coils thereof are open at the tongues of the transmitter T3.

As described, the stepping impulses to the operating magnet 236 continue'to be transmitted from segments 1, 8 and 9 of ring 26 for each revolution of the brushes until a character other than a blank is stepped into association with the selecting pins of the tape transmitter T3. When this occurs, one or more of the tongues 298 will be operated to make contact with the grounded bushbar 2H and thus complete a circuit through its associated selecting relay. As one or more of operation of the switching relay I99 when the storing transmitters TI and T2 have finished transmitting, it can be seen that the operation of the tape transmitter selector relays prepares the system for transfer to the tape transmitter which has combinations to transmit. 7

As the switch is made according to the manner described, relays I99 and I21 are operated and locked. All other relays with the exception of the selecting relays will remain in their normal positions. Then as the brushes 36 and 31 contact segments I4, I5 and I6 of rings 26 and 28 respectively, marking and spacing battery is applied over the circuits described and conductors 216 and 211 to the break and-make contacts respectively, associated with the tongues I92 of relays 84 to 89. These impulses cause the selection in the selecting relays 84 to 89 to be transferred to the transmitting relays 4I to 46, the operation of the cut-off relay 5|, and the selection to be transmitted to the line in the manner already demomentarily blocked out by relay'232 at the time the, switch to the tape transmitting channel was made. v Relay I21 in operating blocks out further stepping impulses from segments 1, 8 and 9 of ring 26 through the tongue 234 of said relay. The tongue 266 of relay I21 is connected to segments 4, 5 and 6 of ring 26 and when said relay is operated, supplies stepping impulses through its make contact, over conductor 24I and continuing over the circuits described to the tape transmitter operating magnets. Thus one of the func tions of relay I21 is to open the blank tape stepping cir uit which passed through the series connections of the tongues 231 of relays 84' to 89 and complete another stepping circuit.

The auto-stop relay 252 operates in a manner similar to that described for the storing transmittors, with the exception that the tape stepping impulse also operates the relay. With the auto-stop contact 254 closed, the stepping impulse divides at 218, half going through the auto-stop contact 254 and through the left hand winding of the relay 252 to the tape stepping magnet 226, the other half going through the make-before-break contact 219 through the right hand winding of relay 252 to the tape stepping magnet. The windings of relay 252 are opposed and the passage of the stepping impulse through both windings does not operate it. However, if the auto-stop contact 254 is opened, the stepping impulse will pass through only the right hand winding, thereby causing it to operate and apply locking negative potential at the tongue 28l through this winding and the tape transmitter magnet 226 to ground, holding both relay and transmitter stepping magnet 226 in their operated positions. When the auto-stop contact subsequently closes, the succeeding regular negative potential stepping impulse will pass through the left hand winding of relay 252, neutralizing the negative locking circuit, and continues through the stepping magnet 228 to ground, allowing said magnet to complete its stepping function. As the magnet 226 is energized -when the auto-stop contact 254 is opened, the selecting pins in the tape transmitter are all held down; which causes all the selecting relays 84 to 89 to be unoperated. This causes a long rest impulse to be transmitted to the line by the distributor transmitter and prevents the combination that is represented by the perforation over the selecting pins from being repeated over and over for every revolution of the distributor brushes. Other functions of the autostop relay 252 will be described later. The autostop contact 254 is mechanically operated by shortening of the loop of the tape .between the transmitter T3 and a perforator in the usual manner.

It will be noted that there is no tongue of selecting relay 89 included in the series circuit which passes through the tongues 231 of the other five selecting relays 84 to 88. This is because there is no combination to be transmitted which uses this corresponding impulse alone and therefore it is not necessary to include this impulse in the series circuit which signals the system that the tape transmitting channel is ready to transmit.

Stepping blank tape through tape transmitters T3 and T4 As described, when a metallic storing transmitter is transmitting, stepping impulses are supplied to the stepping magnets of the tape transmitters to advance the blank tapes therein. However, when one of these tape transmitters,

such as T3, selectively operates the selecting relays 84 to 89, the stepping impulse to this transmitter is blocked out and another circuit is set up to allow other stepping impulses to operate this transmitter when the storing transmitters TI and T2 allow it to transmit. While one tape transmitter is thus held inoperative, the other is supplied with stepping impulses to bring the first perforation in its tape into association with the selecting pins or to operate its autostop. 7

The relay 222 is the main switching relay, for the tape transmitting channel-and relays 2H and H8 are secondary switching relays associated with transmitters T3 and T4 respectively. When relay 222 is in its normal unoperated position, its

tongue 282 applies ground through its break contact over conductor 283 and through the coil of relay 2l8 to battery, thus causing said relay to be operated. When relay 222 is operated, the tongue 282 applies ground through its make contact, over conductor 284 and through the coil of relay 2" to battery causing it also to be operated. Referring to the above described circuits, it can be seen that the secondary switching relays 2l1 and 2I8 will be in their normal positions when their associated transmitters are connected to the selecting relays 84 to 89.

. Assuming that transmitter T3 is transmitting, the main switching relay 222 will be unoperated and the secondary switching relays 2|1 and 2l8 will be unoperated and operated respectively. Relays 2H and 222 being unoperated allow the tongues 208 of transmitter T3 to be connected to and control the selecting relays 84 to 89. Relay 2 I8 being operated allows the tongues 2 l6 thereof, which are connected to the tongues 209 of transmitter T4, to b in contact with their associated make contacts. The make contacts of the five tongues 2l6 are connected in parallel by conductor 288 through the coil of relay 258 to battery. Thus it can be seen for these conditions that when the first perforation is stepped into transmitter T4, a tongue -20!! thereof will make contact with the grounded bus bar 2 and by the described circuit cause the energizatlon of relay 258. Up to this time a circuit was complete from segments l, 2 and 3 of ring 26, over conductor 281, through the tongue 289 and break contact of relay 232, over conductor 29! through the make contact and tongue 246 of relay 2l8 over conductor 256, through the tongue 251 and break contact of relay 258 over the described circuit to the stepping magnet 221 of transmitter T4 to ground. Therefore, as the first character perforated in the tape of transmitter T4 causes the operation of relay 258, the stepping circuit is broken and this first character stays associated with the selecting pins.

Substantially the same operations occur when transmitter T4 is sending and a perforation is stepped into transmitter T8. For this condition relays 2H and 222 will be operated and relay 2l8 unoperated, thereby connecting the tongues 209 of transmitter T4 to the selecting relays 84 to 89 and connecting the operated tongues 208 of transmitter T3 in parallel by conductor 292 through the coil of relay 249 to battery. Thus when the tongues 208 make contact with the grounded bus bar 2 as the first character other than a blank in the associated tape is stepped over the selecting pins, relay 249 will be operated. Up to this time the stepping impulses for stepping magnet 226 were from segments I, 2 and 3 of ring 26 as traced to conductor 29l through the make contact and tongue 244 of relay 2l1, over Tmnsfer' from transmitter T3 to T4 Assume that transmitter T3 is sending and with neither of the metallic storing transmitters TI and T2 having combinations to send, it is desired to send from transmitter T4. Thereupon the operator depresses the key 293 and at the next blank combination in the tape in transmitter T3, the control of the selecting relays 84 to 89 will be transferred to transmitter T4, provided one of the storing transmitters has not or does not in the meantime have combinations to transmit. 1

As has been described, relay 222 is the switching relay that determines which of the two tape transmitters is to have control of the selecting relays 84 to 89. Thus the switching from one of the tape transmitters to the other simply involves the energization or deenergization of relay 222. 1

With transmitter T3 controlling the-selecting relays 84 to 89, relays 222 and 2H will be unoperated and relay 2I8 operated. When the key 293 is depressed, ground is applied through the key over conductor 294, through the coil of a relay 298 and over a conductor 291 through the tongue 298 and break contact of. relay 2I1'to negative potential. This causes the energization of relay 296 which is locked in its operated position by ground being applied to its coil through its, tongue 299 and make contact. The key 293 is self-restoring and automatically returns, to,

its normal position after being released. The control of relays 84 to 89 may now be switched to transmitter T4 and this will occur at the next blank in the tape, controlling transmitter T3 unless the storing transmitters TI and T2 have in the meantime received combinations to transmit. Assume that transmitters TI and T2 have not called for the circuits and that the first character perforated in the tape is'held, in the manner described, over the selecting pins of transmitter. T4. When this blank appears in the transmitter T3, all the selecting relays 84 to 89 will be unoperated.-

The next passage of the brush 31 over segments, I, 2 and 3 of ring 28 completes a circuit therefrom over conductor I24, through the make contact and tongue 234 of relay I21, over conductor 238 through the series arrangements of I tongues 231 and break contacts of relays 84 to 88,

over conductor 238, through the tongue 239 and make contact of relay I21, over a conductor 30I, through the tongue 302 and make contact of relay 2I8, over conductors 303 and 304, through the break contact and tongue 306 of the autostop relay 252, over conductors '301 and 308 through the tongue 309 and break contact of relay I 51, over conductor 3I I, through the tongue 3l2 and break contact of relay 98, over conductor 3I3, through the make contact and tongue 3 of relay I21, over conductor 3| 8, through the key 293, over conductor 3" through the make contact and tongue 3I8 of relay 296, over conductor 3I9, through the make contact and tongue 32I of relay 258 and over conductor 322 through the coil of relay 222 to-ground. Relay 222 is thereby operated and locked in its operated position by a circuit from ground through its coil, through its tongue 323 and make contact, over conductor 324, through the break contact and tongue 326 of a relay 321, over a conductor 328 and through the break contact and tongue 329 of relay I3I to positive potential. It may be helpful to give the reasons why some of the; relays involved in the above circuits for the operation of relay 222 are operatedand unoperated. Relay I21 is operated because the locking circuit to relay I09 has not been broken which in turn causes relay I21 to be operated. Relays 84 to 88 will not be operated because there is blank in transmitter. T3 which is at this time connected to relays 84 to 89. Re-- lay 2I8 is operated because the circuit thereto is completed when relay 222 is unoperated. Thecircuit to relay 222 passes through a break contactand tongue of the auto-stop relay 252 because when the auto-stop is operated, the series circuit through the tongues 231 and break contacts of relays 84 to 88 is completed and if the circuit did not thus pass through a break contact of relay 252, relay 222 could be operated when the auto-stop relay' 252 was operated with combinations in the tape over the selecting pins.

This might resultin shifting in the midst of a quotation and not when a blank is being transmitted asadesired. Relays 98 and I51 are unoperated, because for the assumed conditions none of'the selecting relays 68 to 13 or 18 to 83 are operated as transmitters TI and T2'have no combinations to transmit. Relay 296 will be operated asthe operation of the key 293 with relay 2I1 unoperated causes its energiz ation. Relay 258 will be operated because it is assumed that there are perforations in the tape over thepins in transmitter T4, which as described causes the energization of relay 258. As relay 222 operates, it causes relay 2I1 to be operated and relay 2I8 to become unoperated and the joint operation of the three relays disconnects transmitter T3 from the selecting relays 84 to 89 and connects the transmitter T4 thereto. In tracing the above circuit of relay 222 it .is' evident that the switching operation can take place only when the following four conditions are fulfilled: first, blank tape .must be over the selecting pins of the transmitter from which the switch is made; second,

' there must be no combinations stored in either of the storing transmitters; third, the auto-stop of the transmitter from which the switch is made must be unoperated; fourth, the transmitter to which the switch is made must have the first transfer was made in order not to step the combination responsible for the switching out of. the transmitter before it was transmitted to the line. The same condition exists in switching from one tape transmitter to the other and the same relay 232 blocks out this first stepping impulse but a different circuit to this relay is established.

concomitantly asthe brush 31 contacts segments I, 2, and 3 of ring 28 to initiate the switching impulse, the brush 38 contacts segments I, 2 and 3 of ring 28' and establishes a circuit therefrom over conductor 281,through a series arrangement of tongues 323 and break contacts of relays 84 to 88, over a conductor 324,- through the tongue 328 and'make contact of relay I21,

over conductor 321, through the make contact and tongue 328 of relay 298, over conductor 329, through the tongue 33I and make contact of relay 258, over conductor 332 through the tongue 333 and break contact of the auto-stop relay 28I of transmitter T4, over conductor 334, through the break contact and tongue 338 of the autostop relay 252 of transmitter T3, over conductor 331 and through the col of relay 232 to ground.

This causes relay 232 to operate and it is locked in its operated position by the tongue of relay 281. The stepping impulse which advanced the tape in transmitter T4 up to the time the first perforation registered was from segments 4, 5 and 8 of ring 28 and passed through tongues and break contacts of relays 232 and 258. When this perforation registered, the stepping circuit was opened at relay 358 as described. However, the relay 258 was returned to normal at the time of switching and again completes the stepping circuit. concomitantly with the return of relay 258 to normal, relay 232 was opened by an impulse from segments I, 2 and 3 of ring 28 and again opened the stepping circuit. Therefore as the brush 38 subsequently contacts segments 4, 5 and 8 of the ring 28, the stepping impulse therefrom will not be effective to step the tape in transmitter T4. However, as the brush 38 contacts segments 1, 8 and 9, a circuit is completed through the tongue 23I and make contact of relay 232 to the coil of relay 281 to energize said relay which in operating opens the locking circuit to relay 232. As relay 232 returns to normal, the stepping circuit is again restored.

Transfer from transmitter T4 to T3 The manner in which the control of the transmitting relays M to 48 and the selecting relays 84 to 89 of the tape transmitting channel is switched from tape transmiter T4 to tape transmitter T3 will now be described. This operation is substantially the same as switching from tape transmitter T3 to tape transmitter T4. Assume that the described stepping circuit brings a character other than a blank in the tape of transmitter T3 over the pins while transmitter T4 is transmitting. When transmitter T4 is sending the tape switching relays 2I1 and, 222 will be energized and relay 2I8 deenergized. The first perforation in transmitter T3 will therefore allow one or more of the tongues 208 to contact the grounded bus bar 2 and thereby complete a circuit through a tongue 2 and make contact of relay 2I1 and over conductor 292 through the coil of relay 248 to ground, operating said relay. The stepping circuit from segments 4, 5 and 8 of ring 28 for the operating magnet 228 ordinarily passes through the tongue 248 and break contact of relay 249. Therefore, the energization of relay 249, as described, opens the stepping circuit and.

causes the first perforated character to be held in transmitter T3.

With a character stored in transmitter T3, the conditions are such that transmission therefrom would be desirable at the next opportunity. The operator thereupon operates the key 293 which for these conditions applies ground over conductor 338 through the coil of a relay 339, over conductor 3 and through the tongue 342 and break contact of relay 2I8 to negative potential, causing the operation of relay 338. -Relay 339 in operating locks itself by applying ground from its tongue 343 and make contact through its coil. The next blank to appear in transmitter T4 will allow all the selecting relays 84 to 89 to return -to normal and restore the series circuit through the tongues 231 and break contacts thereof. The following passage of the brush 31 over segments I, 2 and 3 of ring 28 completes a circuit therefrom over conductor I24, through the make contact and tongue 234 ofrelay I21, over conductor 238, through the series circuit of tongues 231 and break contacts of relays 84 to 88, over conductors 238, through to tongue 239 and make contact of relay I21 again, over conductors I and 344, through the tongue 341 and break contact of relay 28I and over conductor 348 to a point 349. From point 349 there is a parallel path for the circuit, one path being over conductors 304, 303, through the make contact and tongue 35I of relay 2I1 and over conductor 352 to a point 353. The other path is from point 349 through the break contact and tongue 308 of relay 252 and over conductor 301 to point 353. The purpose of this parallel path will be evident later in the description. From point 353 the circuit continues over conductor 308, through the tongue 309 and break contact of relay I51, over conductor 3I I, through the tongue 3I2 and break contact of relay 98, over conductor 3I3, through the make contact and tongue 3I4 of relay I21, over conductor 3I8, thru the key 293, over 'conductor 3I1, through the make contact and tongue 354 of relay 339, over conductor 358, through the make contact and tongue 351 of relay 249 and over conductor 358 through the coil of relay 321 to ground. This causes the energization of relay 321 which in turn breaks the above described locking circuit of relay 222. As relay 222 returns to its normal position, the tongue 282 thereof breaks the circuit to relay 2I1 and completes a circuit to relay 2I8 causing the deenergization 'and energization of these two relays respectively.

Thus the control of the tape channel selecting relays 84 to 89 is switched from transmitter T4 to T3 at the next blank in the tape in transmitter T4 provided that the storing transmitters TI and T2 have not in the meantime received combinations to transmit. The first tape stepping impulse to transmitter T3 after the switchover is blocked out in exactly the same manner as described above by relay 232.

Transferring directly from transmitters T1 or T2 to tape transmitter T4 to transmitter T4 from one of the storing transmitters even when transmitter T3 has combinations stored therein and a description of the circuits therefor will now be given. Let it be assumed that either of the storing transmitters is in control of the sending circuits and that it is desired to transmit from transmitter T4 before transmitting from transmitter T3 at the next opportunity to transmit from the tape transmitting channel, this opportunity occurring when the operative storing transmitter finishes transmitting and the other storing transmitter has no combinations to transmit. While a storing transmitter is operating, the key 293 is operated. When the tape transmitting channel gives up the control of the sending circuits, relay 222, if not in a normal position, is thereupon returned to normal as will be hereinafter described. There- I3 of ring 23, completes a circuit from battery over conductor 36I through the break contact and tongue 3I4 of relay I21 over .conductor 3I8, through the key 283. over conductor 3", through the make contact and tongue 3I3 of relay 288, over conductor 3|! through the make contact and tongue 32I of relay 258 and over conductor 322 through the coil of relay 222 to ground. This causes the operation of relay 222 which in turn causes the operation of relay 2" and the release of relay 2 I8, thereby connecting the transmitter T4 to the tape transmitter channel selecting relays 84 to 88. Now when a switch to the tape transmitting channel is made as has already been described, the transmitter T4 will start sending. The relays I21 and 258 involved in the above described circuit for energizing relay 222 are unoperated and operated respectively. Relay I21 is unoperated because it was assumed that a storing transmitter was transmitting and thereforerelay I89 will be unoperated which controls the circuit to relay I21. Relay 258 will be operated due to the first perforated character in the tape in transmitter T4. With transmitter T4 transmitting, the operation of key 293 will cause a switch to transmitter T3 at the next blank in the tape of transmitter T4 as has been described.

Assume that one of the metallic storing transmitters is sending and the other storing transmitter and tape transmitter T3 have no combinations stored therein but that tape transmitter T4 has combinations. Under these conditions it would be desirable when the sending storing transmitter completes sending its combinations to switch automatically to transmitter T4 without the necessity of having to manually operate the key 293, provided the other storing transmitter or transmitter T3 has not in the meantime received combinations. With no combinations in transmitter T3 the blank tape will cause the auto-stop contact 254 to be opened. The next stepping impulse will therefore pass through the make-before-break contact 219, the right hand coil only of relay 252 and the stepping magnet 226 to ground, causing the operation of relay 252 which is locked by negative battery being applied to the right hand coil through the tongue 28I thereof. The first character in the transmitter T4 will, as described, cause the operation of relay 258. With relays 252 and 258 operated a circuit is completed from battery through the break contact and tongue .298 of relay 2I1, over conductor 291, through the coil of relay 286, over conductor 294, through the make contact and tongue 362 of relay 252, over conductor 363, through the make contact and tongue 384 of relay 258, over conductor 368 and through the break contact and tongue 286 of relay I88 to ground. This causes the automatic operationvof relay 298 and from now on the conditions are the same as when the key 283 was operated to cause the transfer to transmitter T4.

from-a storing transmitter Tl or T2. The above conditions exist when both of the relays 252 and 258 operate, the operations of each being independent of the other and each operate due to their respective conditions.

Thus the tape transmitter T4 will be automatically selected if it has combinations to transmit and the transmitter T3 has not, when both of the metallic storage transmitters have finished transmitting.

Transmission from transmitter T4 The transmission from transmitter T4 is substantiaily the same as from transmitter T3 after a switch thereto has been made by any one of I the methods described above. The tongues 283 of transmitter T4 are connected-through tongues and contacts of relays 2I8 and 222 to the coils of the tape channel selecting relays 84 to 88. From the selecting relays 84 to 88 the combinations are transferred to the transmitting relays 4I to 46 and subsequently transmitted therefrom in the usual manner as described above. Impulses from segments 4, 5'and 6 of ring 25 are used to operate the transmitter and are applied to the described stepping circuit at the tongue 288 and make contact of relay I 21. The auto-stop relay 26I of transmitter T4 operates in the same manner as the described auto-stop relay 252 of transmitter T3. When operated it locks the operating magnet 221 of transmitter T4 in its energized position causing the selecting relays 84 to 38 to be spacingly operated and transmit a prolonged rest or marking impulse to the line.

When a tape transmitter is in operation, the control of the transmitting distributor may be switched to either of the storing transmitters. It has been explained how relays 88 and I51 are operated when there are combinations stored in their associated transmitters 'TI and T2, signalling to the system that they are in a condition to transmit. In the event that one of these relays becomes operated while one of the tape transmitters is sending, the circuits will be automatically prepared to switch to the associated storing transmitter. At the next blank occurring in the tape in the operating transmitter, the transfer will be made. If both relays 98 and I51 should become operated before the transfer is made, the storing transmitter TI will be chosen first because of the predetermined order of selection Transfer from transmitter T3 to T1 When transmitter T3 is in operation it will be remembered that relays I88, I21 and 2I8 are operated. As it is assumed that the transfer is to be made to transmitter TI, its associated relay 88 will be operated indicating there are combinations to be transmitted therefrom. The transfer will be made at the next blank in the tape transmitter T3 which will be indicated by-the tape channel selecting relays 84 to 89 being in their unoperated position at the same time that the auto-stop relay 252 is not operated.

When this condition exists, the brush 31 con-- tongue 902 of relay 2 I9, over conductors 909, and 904, through the break contact and tongue 906 of relay 252, over conductors 901 and 909, through the tongue 909 and break contact of relay I51, over conductor 9I I, through the tongue 9I2 and make contact of relay 99 and over a conductor 966 through the coil of relay I9I to ground. This causes relay "I to operate which in turn by means of its tongue 204 opens the locking circult to relay I09. Relay I09 thereupon returns to its normal position and in so doing opens the circuit to relay- I21 which also returns to normal. Relay I09 in returning to normal also disconnects the tongues I92 of the tape channel selecting relays 94 to 99 from the transmitting relays and connects the tongues I I2 of relay I I9 thereto. If transmitter T2 had been the last storing transmitter to transmit, prior to the switch over to the tape transmitting channel, relay II9 would have been left operated. Thus in order to connect transmitter TI to the transmitting relays H to 46, it is necessary to return relay II9 to normal at the same time relay I09 is returned to normal. It will be remembered that relay II3 was locked operated by a circuit through the tongue I16 and break contact of relay I11. Thus to return relay II3 to normal it is necessary to operate relay I11. .11. relay II9 had been in its unoperated position, it would not be necessary to operate relay I11 but to insureproper operation it is operated each time a transfer is made from the tape transmitting channel to transmitter TI. The circuit to relay I11 is from battery at the make contact and tongue 961 of relay I9I over conductor 369, through the tongues 969 and make contact of relay 99 and over conductor I9I through the coil of relay I11 to ground, causing it to operate.

It will be noted that the regular stepping impulses from segments I, 2 and 9 of ring 29 for operating the transmitting arms of transmitters TI and T2 pass through the tongue I29 and break contact of relay I3I. The reason for this is that the relays I09 and I21 operate so fast that they will be in their normal position before the brush 91 completes itspassage over segments I, 2 and 9. The relay I9I is energized during the time the brush 91 is passing over segments I, 2

and 9 and the break contact thereof opens the stepping impulse circuit during this time. If the circuit were not opened at relay I9I, the remainder oi the circuit would be completed while the brush was on segments I, 2 and 9 to operate the stepping magnet I03 and cause the loss of the first combination stored in transmitter" TI every time a switch was made thereto from the tape transmitting channel. After the switch has been made, thecircuits are back in the same condition that they were when transmission from transmitter TI was first described.

Transfer from transmitter T4 to T3 storing transmitter has combinations to transmit.

The next blank to he stepped into transmitter T4 will set up the conditions-for the transfer. -For the assumed conditions of transmitter T4 operat-' ing and transmitter T2 having combinations stored therein, relays I09, I21, I51, 2" and 222 will be operated. When the next blank is stepped over the pins in transmitter T4 the selecting relays 94 to 99 will be returned to normal. Thus the next passage of brush 91 over segments I, 2 and 9 of ring 28 completes a circuit therefrom over conductor I24 through the make contact and tongue 294 of relay I21, over conductor. 295, through the series arrangement of tongue 291 and break contacts of relay 94 to 89, over conductor 230, through the tongue 299 and make contact of relay I21, over conductors 90I and 944, through the tongue 941 and break contact of relay 26I, over conductors 949 and 904 through the make contact'andtongue 35I of relay 2I1, over conductors 952 and 909, through the tongue 909 and make contact of relay I51 and over-conductor 365 through the coil of relay I 9| to ground, causing said relay to operate. As in the previously described transfer, the energization of relay I9I causes the deenergization of relays I09 and I21. Iftransmitter T2 had been the previous storing transmitter to operate, relay I I9 would be operated, but as there is no way of determining its condition, an operating impulse from battery at the make contact and tongue 361 of relay I9I, over conductor 368, through the tongue 969 and break contact of relay 98, over conductor I12 is applied through the coil of relay II9 to ground. This impulse insures that relay I I3 is operated and it is looked as described. From here on the operation of the system is the same as described under the operation of transmitter T2.

It will be remembered that when transmitting from transmitter T4 relay 222 is locked in its operated condition by a circuit through its make contact and tongue 923 over conductor 924, through the tongue 926 and break contact of relay 921, over conductor 929 and through the break contact and tongue 329 of relay I9I to positive potential. Thus as a transfer is-made from transmitter T4 to one of the metallic storage transmitters, the operation of relay I9I causes relay 222 to return to normal, which in turn, as described, causes relays 2I1 and 2I8 to assume their unoperated and operated positions respectively. Therefore, under normal conditions, which is when the key 293 is not operated in the meantime, transmitter T9 will be given first opportunity to transmit at the following transfer to the tape transmitting channel.

Transfer from transmitter T4 to T1 If the relay 99 had become operated, indicating there were combinations stored in transmitter TI, before the last described transfer was made, then both relays 99 and I51 would be operated. In this case relay I3I would also be operated by an impulse from segments I, 2 and 9 of ring 29 through the described circuit including the tongue 909 and make contact of relay I51. However, with relay 98 operated, the impulse from battery at the make contact and tongue 361 of relay I9I passes over conductor 369 through the tongue 969 and make'contact of relay 90 and over conductor I9I through the coil of relay I11, to energize said relay which breaks the looking circuit to relay I I9, if it is locked operated. If relay 99 were not operated, the impulse from battery at the tongue 961 and make contact of relay I9I would pass through the tongues 369 and break contact of relay 99 over conductor I12 to the coil of relay II3, to energize the same. With relay II9 energized, transmitter T2 is connected to the transmitting relays 4| to 46, and with said relay deenergized, transmitter TI is connected thereto. Thus when a switch to the storing transmitter is made the condition of relay I I9 determines which of the storing transmitters will be chosen and transmitter TI will be chosen with combinations in both transmitters 

